However, the Old Trafford giants must still agree a fee with Real – they are demanding £48m for the Argentina World Cup winger - and also convince Di Maria to join them, as his preferred choice was PSG.

Elsewhere, the Reds' £15m move for Di Maria’s compatriot, defender Marcos Rojo, has been complicated by a legal row between his club Sporting Lisbon and third-party owners Doyen Sports.